Stephen Palmer Shaw
Agency patch
Special Agent

Stephen Palmer Shaw

Accident
End of Watch May 17, 2013
Age 40
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 162 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Stephen Shaw and Special Agent Christopher Lorek were killed in a training accident 12 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Both agents were participating in a maritime counterterrorism exercise involving fast-roping from a helicopter onto a ship. The helicopter encountered difficulties during the maneuver, causing both agents to fall a significant distance into the ocean.

They were recovered from the water and flown to Norfolk General Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Special Agent Shaw had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for eight years and was assigned to the Hostage Rescue Team, based out of Quantico, Virginia.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, 3-year-old daughter, and 1-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Shaw gave the United States Department of Justice 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Shaw.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 2013
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Stephen is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2013, 56 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Stephen was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Stephen had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, Stephen among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Agent Stephen Palmer Shaw

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch May 17, 2013

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W

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